Family of 7 Goes to DLR 2/4-2/10/18 *update 9/9* - “Final Thoughts”

[RedHotMama]

What a fun reveal! Hope you have an amazing trip!

Thank you!

You're welcome! So glad I could help. Hope you all have a great time! I'll be there (probably all) Sundays in Feb. Keep an eye out for me. I'll give your kids some great Buzz Lightyear tips

Oh, that would be just too amazing!! Unfortunately, we'll be arriving in Anaheim on Sunday, and not enter the parks until Monday.

 

[WonkaKid]

Oh, that would be just too amazing!! Unfortunately, we'll be arriving in Anaheim on Sunday, and not enter the parks until Monday.

No worries. Again, hope you have a great time! DL is truly awesome!

 

[casagray]

Super cute reveal photos! Thanks for sharing them - your youngest looks like he can't contain his excitement!

 

[RedHotMama]

Super cute reveal photos! Thanks for sharing them - your youngest looks like he can't contain his excitement!

Welcome!
Yes, S is very excited! And he has no idea! (Never been before.) He is going to LOVE it!

 

[RedHotMama]

Must-Have Foods

• Mickey Ice Cream Bar
• Dole Whip
• Beignet
• Monte Cristo Sandwich
• Pomme Frites
• Grey Stuff
• Cozy Cone Entree
• Corn Dog
• Plaza Inn Fried Chicken
• Churro

Foods in italics I haven't tried before (in Disneyland)


5 Weeks Till Our Trip!
It's been a great week. I don't have to plan and craft in secret anymore. And the kids are so happy. Everyday, we've watched a few Disneyland ride videos on YouTube. S(3) is now really excited about the Winnie the Pooh ride and he's been asking for Pooh Bear movies constantly now. J(12) and N(7) are most looking forward to Big Thunder Mountain.
I've started another set of shirts I'm making for our trip. We'll wear them on our first day when we do Adventureland/NOS/Critter Country/Frontierland. Everyone in the family picked a favorite attraction (or one they're most looking forward to riding for the first time) and I'm making shirts inspired by retro posters I've seen.
Counting down...

 

[eeudj]

Great start!! Following.... I will be there February 11-15, Kings Inn Anaheim.. first time DH and me without our kids......

 

[RedHotMama]

Great start!! Following.... I will be there February 11-15, Kings Inn Anaheim.. first time DH and me without our kids......

Right after us! My sister will be there that week for work.
I absolutely want to take a no-kids trip with my husband! I'm trying for next year for our 20th anniversary.

 

[RedHotMama]

Some plans...

Day 1 (Monday 2/5): Disneyland
Hours: 10am-9pm


Morning:

Adventureland

First ride! Pirates of the Caribbean
-Enjoy Adventureland. Grab Haunted Mansion FPs for everyone? Or too early?

Jungle Cruise

Indiana Jones standby (to show kids the queue, RS)
-46”. Kids do Pirates or JC again, or Tarzan Treehouse

New Orleans Square / Critter Country

Use FP Haunted Mansion
-Or ride standby.

Winnie the Pooh

Get FP for Big Thunder Mountain


Afternoon:

1pm Lunch at Cafe Orleans
-Share monte Cristo, pomme frittes, beignets.

Frontierland

Use FP BTMRR (RS)
-40”. Get another Big Thunder FP. Kids get a Mint Julip at the Mint Julip bar and watch the boats on the river?

Raft to Tom Sawyer Island

Mark Twain Riverboat and/or Sailing Ship Columbia, if running.
-If closed, ride the Railroad.

Get Indiana FP.

Use FP Big Thunder (RS)
-40”. Kids walk along river or go to the Shooting Exposition.

Enchanted Tiki Room (and Dole Whips!)


Evening:

6pm Dinner: F! Hungry Bear Package (reserved)
-Can order off the regular menu

Use Indiana FP? (RS)

Line up for Fantasmic! (7:45 show)

 

[RedHotMama]

Day 2 (Tuesday 2/6): California Adventure
Hours: 10am-8pm


Morning:

Cars Land

Book FP Radiator Springs Racers once though gates

Run FP World of Color at Grizzly River Run

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters

Look around Cars Land and take pictures

Use FP Racers (RS)
-40”. Book FP Guardian’s of the Galaxy

Lunch at Flo’s V8 Cafe

Exit the back of CL to the wharf (enjoy the views)


Afternoon:

Scout out spots for WoC
-(bridge, hydrant, rails), then back towards Buena Vista St.

Hollywood Land

Animation Academy

Animation Courtyard

Sorcerer's Workshop

Turtle Talk with Crush

Monster’s Inc

Use FP Guardian’s
-Grab FP Racers for sundown?


Evening:

Shboom! In Carsland (sunset 5:26)

Dinner at Cozy Cone

Use nighttime FP Racers

World of Color (8:15 show)

 

[EvangelineG]

I love your reveal photos! You and your crew are going to have so much fun!

 

[RedHotMama]

I love your reveal photos! You and your crew are going to have so much fun!

Thank you! 27 days!!!

 

[BrerMama]

You're so close. What a trip this is going to be!

 

[RedHotMama]

Day 3 (Wednesday 2/7): Disneyland
Hours: 10am-9pm.


Morning:

Tomorrowland

Book FP Space Mountain

Jedi Training Sign Up (try for 3:25 show?)

Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters
-Ride as much as we want until space mountain.

Use FP Space Mountain (RS, photo)

Get FP Star Tours (Dad Matterhorn?)

Autopia

Finding Nemo Submarine



Afternoon:

Use FP Star Tours (RS?) and Matterhorn
-ST 40”

Astro Orbiter

Lunch at Plaza Inn
-Fried chicken meal

Check in at Jedi Training


Fantasyland

Alice in Wonderland

Mad Tea Party

King Arthur Carousel



Evening:

Dinner at Red Rose Taverne
-Gray stuff!

Snow White’s Scary Adventures

Mr Toad’s Wild Ride

Peter Pan’s Flight

Railroad?

 

[RedHotMama]

Day 4 (Thursday 2/8): California Adventure
Hours: 9am-8pm. Optional Magic Morning in DL. 8-9am.


Morning:

Paradise Pier
(what's left of it, lol)

Book TSMM FP

One person runs to get FP for WoC while everyone else walks over and gets in TSMM standby line

Standby Toy Story Midway Mania
-1 or 2 times while the wait is less than 15 minutes

King Triton’s Carousel

Use Toy Story FP
-Pull more Toy Story FP after 1st scan

Meet Toy Story characters?

Silly Swings?

Goofy’s Sky School
-others get churros?

The Little Mermaid
-at least once

Use Toy Story FP

Book Soarin’ FP.



Afternoon:

Grizzly Peak

Grizzly River Run (RS)
-42”. Little kids- walk around Grizzly Peak, photos.

Lunch at Smokejumpers Grill
-try onion rings, waffle fries

Use Soarin FP (RS)
-40”. Kids- diapers, photos, red trolley, shake at Smokejumpers, Clarabelle's ice cream

Hotel break?

Check for remaining FPs.



Evening:

Dinner at the Wharf?
-Paradise Garden Grill or Boudin’s?

Watch World of Color again?
-From a different spot?

DL is open until 10pm, if we want to hop.
-Or E babysits while T&R go back.

 

[RedHotMama]

Only 3 weeks until we're in Disneyland!!!


This last day in the parks, we'll first do anything we haven't gotten to yet, starting in DL. Also, we'll focus on shows (Mickey's Magical Map doesn't show during the week). Then we can do some repeats.

Day 5 (Friday 2/9): Last Day/Park Hop
DL Hours: 9am-12am. CA Hours: 9am-11pm.


Peter Pan flight?

Toontown
-Find Goofy for J!

Storytelling at Royal Theater
-(shows every hour and 15 min from 11:30-6:15)

Lunch at Little Red Wagon corn dogs?

Mickey’s Magical Map show
-(shows about every hour-ish from 2:30-8)

Monorail

Main St, Mr Lincoln

Davy Crockett Canoes
-if running

Dinner at Rancho del Zocalo or Jolly Holiday
-Or in California Adventure?

Ride the Railroad


Might be a good night for T&R to go out alone.

 

[Jaina]

It is so much fun when they can plan with you and be excited with you! I love watching Youtube videos of rides even when we're not planning a trip sometimes, haha. It has been a good way to introduce unsure kids to rides they think might be scary, too!

 

[RedHotMama]

It is so much fun when they can plan with you and be excited with you! I love watching Youtube videos of rides even when we're not planning a trip sometimes, haha. It has been a good way to introduce unsure kids to rides they think might be scary, too!

Yes! In fact, I was so sure that only DH and the older kids would ride Haunted Mansion. But my 3 year old LOVES the ride video! He requests it almost as much as Winnie the Pooh. Go figure. So, I guess the whole family will be riding. Lol.

 

[momtohms]

Joining in! You have a beautiful family I love their reaction on Christmas, how fun!

I'll be curious as well as to how you guys like the Desert Palms. We only have 3 kiddos, but the one room with two doubles and an extra pull out bed is getting tight as they get older. Loving the look of those suites with the bunks!

 

[momtohms]

It is so much fun when they can plan with you and be excited with you! I love watching Youtube videos of rides even when we're not planning a trip sometimes, haha. It has been a good way to introduce unsure kids to rides they think might be scary, too!

We are the same way! Haha! YouTube is great

Yes! In fact, I was so sure that only DH and the older kids would ride Haunted Mansion. But my 3 year old LOVES the ride video! He requests it almost as much as Winnie the Pooh. Go figure. So, I guess the whole family will be riding. Lol.

My middle daughter is my really cautious and sensitive, princess and pink and butterfly and kitten loving child. Her favorite ride is Haunted Mansion. I would've bet serious money she would have refused to ride it, especially our first trip when she was 4 1/2. But she LOVED it and it was her favorite again on our second trip. Kids are fun

 

[RedHotMama]

We're home! We had an amazing trip!

Now I have the monumental task of writing a trip report. It'll be fun!